Adela of Flanders
Encyclopedia
Adela of Flanders also known as Ailanda, was a mediaeval Danish Queen and Italian Duchess and regent, Queen Consort of King Canute IV of Denmark
, and Duchess consort of Duke Roger Borsa
of Apulia, and then minor regent of Apulia
in 1111–1115 as mother and guardian of William II of Apulia. Mother of Charles the Good of Flanders.
, and Gertrude of Saxony
.
In 1080 she married King Canute IV of Denmark
with whom she had three children: a son, the later Charles the Good
, Count of Flanders during 1119–1127 (born in 1084) and twin daughters Cecilia and Ingeborg (born ca. 1085/86). When Canute was assassinated in 1086, she fled with her son to Flanders, leaving her daughters behind in Denmark.
She stayed in the court of her father and brother Robert II until 1092, when she left for Italy to marry Roger Borsa
, Duke of Apulia. She bore her second husband three sons: Louis (who died in infancy in 1094), the future Duke William II
(born ca. 1096/97) and Guiscard (who died in boyhood in 1108). She acted as a regent for her son William II at the death of Roger Borsa from 1111 until he came of age in 1114.
Canute IV of Denmark
Canute IV, later known as Canute the Holy or Canute the Saint , was King of Denmark from 1080 until 1086. Canute was an ambitious king who sought to strengthen the Danish monarchy, devotedly supported the Roman Catholic Church, and had designs on the English throne. Slain by rebels in 1086, he was...
, and Duchess consort of Duke Roger Borsa
Roger Borsa
Roger Borsa was the Norman Duke of Apulia and effective ruler of southern Italy from 1085 until his death. He was the son of Robert Guiscard, the conqueror of southern Italy and Sicily; Roger was not as adept as his father, and most of his reign was spent in feudal anarchy.-Biography:Roger was the...
of Apulia, and then minor regent of Apulia
Apulia
Apulia is a region in Southern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Òtranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south. Its most southern portion, known as Salento peninsula, forms a high heel on the "boot" of Italy. The region comprises , and...
in 1111–1115 as mother and guardian of William II of Apulia. Mother of Charles the Good of Flanders.
Biography
Adela was born the daughter of Robert I, Count of FlandersRobert I, Count of Flanders
thumb|Robert I of FlandersRobert I of Flanders , known as Robert the Frisian, was count of Flanders from 1071 to 1092.-History:...
, and Gertrude of Saxony
Gertrude of Saxony
Gertrude of Saxony , also known as Gertrude Billung, was the daughter of Bernard II, Duke of Saxony and Eilika of Schweinfurt. She married Floris I, Count of Holland c. 1050, and upon his death, her son Dirk V became Count of Holland...
.
In 1080 she married King Canute IV of Denmark
Canute IV of Denmark
Canute IV, later known as Canute the Holy or Canute the Saint , was King of Denmark from 1080 until 1086. Canute was an ambitious king who sought to strengthen the Danish monarchy, devotedly supported the Roman Catholic Church, and had designs on the English throne. Slain by rebels in 1086, he was...
with whom she had three children: a son, the later Charles the Good
Charles I, Count of Flanders
Blessed Charles the Good was Count of Flanders from 1119 to 1127. He is most remembered for his murder and its aftermath.-History:...
, Count of Flanders during 1119–1127 (born in 1084) and twin daughters Cecilia and Ingeborg (born ca. 1085/86). When Canute was assassinated in 1086, she fled with her son to Flanders, leaving her daughters behind in Denmark.
She stayed in the court of her father and brother Robert II until 1092, when she left for Italy to marry Roger Borsa
Roger Borsa
Roger Borsa was the Norman Duke of Apulia and effective ruler of southern Italy from 1085 until his death. He was the son of Robert Guiscard, the conqueror of southern Italy and Sicily; Roger was not as adept as his father, and most of his reign was spent in feudal anarchy.-Biography:Roger was the...
, Duke of Apulia. She bore her second husband three sons: Louis (who died in infancy in 1094), the future Duke William II
William II, Duke of Apulia
William II was the duke of Apulia and Calabria from 1111 to 1127. He was the son and successor of Roger Borsa. His mother, Adela of Flanders, had previously been queen of Denmark, and he was a half-brother of Charles the Good....
(born ca. 1096/97) and Guiscard (who died in boyhood in 1108). She acted as a regent for her son William II at the death of Roger Borsa from 1111 until he came of age in 1114.